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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Our significant accounting policies are described below, as well as in other Notes that follow. Unless otherwise indicated, amounts provided in these Notes pertain to continuing operations only (see Note 4 for information on discontinued operations). Principles of Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements include SPX Corporation’s (“SPX”, “our”, or “we”) accounts prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) after the elimination of intercompany transactions. Investments in unconsolidated companies where we exercise significant influence but do not have control are accounted for using the equity method. In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”), we perform a qualitative analysis that considers the design of the VIE, the nature of our involvement and the variable interests held by other parties to determine which party has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and which party has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. We have an interest in a VIE, in which we are not the primary beneficiary, as a result of the sale of Balcke Dürr. See below and in Notes 2, 4 and 16 for further discussion of the Balcke Dürr sale. All other VIEs are considered immaterial, individually and in aggregate, to our consolidated financial statements. Shift Away from the Power Generation Markets — On September 26, 2015, we completed the spin-off to our stockholders (the “Spin-Off”) of all the outstanding shares of SPX FLOW, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SPX prior to the Spin-Off, which at the time of the Spin-Off held the businesses comprising our Flow Technology reportable segment, our Hydraulic Technologies business, and certain of our corporate subsidiaries. Prior to the Spin-Off, our businesses serving the power generation markets had a major impact on the consolidated financial results of SPX. In the recent years leading up to the Spin-Off, these businesses experienced significant declines in revenues and profitability associated with weak demand and increased competition within the global power generation markets. Based on a review of our post-spin portfolio and the belief that a recovery within the power generation markets was unlikely in the foreseeable future, we decided that our strategic focus would be on our (i) scalable growth businesses that serve the heating, ventilation and cooling (“HVAC”) and detection and measurement markets and (ii) power transformer and process cooling systems businesses. As a result, we have significantly reduced our exposure to the power generation markets as indicated by the activities summarized below:
• | Sale of Dry Cooling Business - On March 30, 2016, we completed the sale of our dry cooling business, a business that provides dry cooling systems to the global power generation markets and was previously reported within our Engineered Solutions reportable segment, to Paharpur Cooling Towers Limited. See Note 4 for additional details.
• | Sale of Balcke Dürr Business - On December 30, 2016, we completed the sale of Balcke Dürr, a business that provides heat exchangers and other related components to the European and Asian power generation markets, to a subsidiary of mutares AG (the “Buyer”). Balcke Dürr historically had been the most significant of our power generation businesses and, in recent years, had experienced significant declines in its operating performance as evidenced by its net loss of $39.6 in 2015. With the sale, we eliminated the losses and liquidity needs of Balcke Dürr, which were expected to be significant in the foreseeable future. As we considered the disposition of Balcke Dürr to be the cornerstone of our strategic shift away from the power generation markets, and given the significance of Balcke Dürr’s financial results to our overall operations prior to its disposition, we have classified Balcke Dürr as a discontinued operation in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. See Note 4 for additional details.
• | Planned Wind-Down of the SPX Heat Transfer Business - During the second quarter of 2018, as a continuation of our strategic shift away from power generation markets, we initiated a plan to wind-down the SPX Heat Transfer (“Heat Transfer”) business. In connection with the planned wind-down, we recorded charges of $3.5 in our 2018 operating results, with $0.9 related to the write-down of inventories (included in “Cost of products sold”), $0.6 related to the impairment of machinery and equipment and $2.0 related to severance costs (both included in “Special charges, net”). In addition, and as part of the wind-down, we sold certain intangible assets of the Heat Transfer business for net cash proceeds of $4.8, which resulted in a gain of less than $0.1 within our 2018 operating results. We anticipate completing the wind-down of Heat Transfer during of the first half of 2019.
Change in Segment Reporting Structure - During the fourth quarter of 2018, due, in part, to certain wind-down activities, and the related decline in volumes, at our South African subsidiary, DBT Technologies (PTY) LTD (“DBT”), and Heat Transfer business, we concluded that these operating segments are no longer economically similar to the other operating segments within our Engineered Solutions reportable segment. As such, DBT and Heat Transfer are now being reported, for all periods presented, within an “All Other” category outside of our reportable segments. See Note 6 for additional details. Acquisitions in 2018:
• | Schonstedt - On March 1, 2018, we completed the acquisition of Schonstedt Instrument Company (“Schonstedt”), a manufacturer and distributor of magnetic locator products used for locating underground utilities and other buried objects, for a purchase price of $16.4, net of cash acquired of $0.3. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been recorded at estimates of fair value as determined by management, based on information available and on assumptions as to future operations. The post-acquisition operating results of Schonstedt are reflected within our Detection and Measurement reportable segment.
• | Cues - On June 7, 2018, we completed the acquisition of Cues, Inc. (“Cues”), a manufacturer of pipeline inspection and rehabilitation equipment, which significantly increases our presence in the pipeline inspection market. The acquisition was completed through the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Cues’ parent company for a purchase price of $164.4, net of cash acquired of $20.6. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been recorded at estimates of fair value as determined by management, based on information available and on assumptions as to future operations and are subject to change based on the final assessment and valuation of certain income tax amounts. The post-acquisition operating results of Cues are reflected within our Detection and Measurement reportable segment. See Note 4 for additional details on the Cues acquisition.
New Income Tax Law in the United States — On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted which significantly changes United States (“U.S.”) income tax law for businesses and individuals. The Act introduced changes that impact U.S. corporate tax rates (e.g., a reduction in the top tax rate from 35% to 21%), business-related exclusions, and deductions and credits. In addition, the Act imposes tax consequences for many entities that operate internationally, including the timing and the amount of tax to be paid on undistributed foreign earnings. As provided for by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, we recorded provisional amounts in our 2017 consolidated financial statements to account for certain income tax effects of the Act. See Note 11 for a discussion of the impact of the Act on our 2018 and 2017 consolidated financial statements, including the provisional amounts that were recorded in 2017. Retirement of Treasury Stock — In 2016, we retired 50.0 shares, or $2,948.1, of “Common stock in treasury.” Under the applicable state law, these shares represent authorized and unissued shares upon retirement. In accordance with our accounting policy, we allocate any excess of share repurchase over par value between “Paid-in capital” and “Retained earnings,” resulting in respective reductions of $1,285.4 and $1,662.2. Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions — The financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with the Foreign Currency Matters Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification (“Codification”). Gains and losses on foreign currency translations are reflected as a separate component of equity and other comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses, as well as gains and losses related to foreign currency forward contracts and currency forward embedded derivatives, are included in “Other expense, net,” with the related net losses totaling $0.3, $3.3 and $2.4 in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Cash Equivalents — We consider highly liquid money market investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Revenue Recognition — Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 under the modified retrospective transition approach. See Note 5 for our policy for recognizing revenue under ASC 606 as well as the various other disclosures required by ASC 606. For 2017 and 2016, revenue continues to be presented based on prior guidance. Under such guidance, we recognized revenues from product sales upon shipment to the customer (e.g., FOB shipping point) or upon receipt by the customer (e.g., FOB destination). Revenues from service contracts and long-term maintenance arrangements were recognized on a straight-line basis over the agreement period. In addition, certain of our businesses, primarily within the Engineered Solutions reportable segment and those in our “All Other” group of operating segments, also recognized revenues from long-term construction/installation contracts under the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. The percentage-of-completion on our long-term construction/installation contracts was measured principally by the percentage of costs incurred to date for each contract to the estimated costs for such contract at completion. We recognized revenues for similar short-term contracts using the completed-contract method of accounting. Provisions for any estimated losses on uncompleted long-term contracts were made in the period in which such losses were determined. In the case of customer change orders for uncompleted long-term contracts, estimated recoveries were included for work performed in forecasting the ultimate profitability on certain contracts. Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings arise when revenues have been recorded but the amounts have not been billed under the terms of the contracts. Our claims related to long-term contracts were recognized as revenue only after we had determined that collection was probable and the amount could be reliably estimated. Claims against us were recognized when a loss was considered probable and the amounts were reasonably estimable. We recognized $255.5 and $336.1 in revenues under the percentage-of-completion method for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Costs and estimated losses on uncompleted contracts, from their inception, and the related amounts billed as of December 31, 2017 were as follows:
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts |  | $ | 1,261.3 |
Estimated losses to date |  | (59.9 | )
|  | 1,201.4 |
Less: Billings to date |  | (1,202.0 | )
Billings in excess of costs and estimated losses |  | $ | (0.6 | )
The above amount is included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2017 as shown below. Amounts for billed retainages and receivables to be collected in excess of one year were not significant to the period presented
Costs and estimated losses in excess of billings (1) |  | $ | 28.8 |
Billings in excess of costs and estimated losses on uncompleted contracts (2) |  | (29.4 | )
Net billings in excess of costs and estimated losses |  | $ | (0.6 | )
____________________ (1) Reported as a component of “Accounts receivable, net.” (2) Reported as a component of “Accrued expenses.” Research and Development Costs — We expense research and development costs as incurred. We charge costs incurred in the research and development of new software included in products to expense until technological feasibility is established. After technological feasibility is established, additional eligible costs are capitalized until the product is available for general release. We amortize these costs over the economic lives of the related products and include the amortization in cost of products sold. We perform periodic reviews of the recoverability of these capitalized software costs. At the time we determine that capitalized amounts are not recoverable based on the estimated cash flows to be generated from the applicable software, we write off any unrecoverable capitalized amounts. Capitalized software, net of amortization, totaled $6.2 and $8.3 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Capitalized software amortization expense totaled $2.4, $2.4 and $1.2 for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. We expensed research activities relating to the development and improvement of our products of $22.9, $23.3 and $29.1 in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”) is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. We use the straight-line method for computing depreciation expense over the useful lives of PP&E, which do not exceed 40 years for buildings and range from 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment. Depreciation expense, including amortization of capital leases, was $22.6, $22.2 and $22.5 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the related asset or the life of the lease, whichever is shorter. Interest is capitalized on significant construction or installation projects. No interest was capitalized during 2018, 2017 or 2016. Pension and Postretirement — We recognize changes in the fair value of plan assets and actuarial gains and losses in earnings during the fourth quarter of each year, unless earlier remeasurement is required, as a component of net periodic benefit expense and, accordingly, recognize the effects of plan investment performance, interest rate changes, and changes in actuarial assumptions as a component of earnings in the year in which they occur. The remaining components of pension/postretirement expense, primarily service and interest costs and expected return on plan assets, are recorded on a quarterly basis. Income Taxes — We account for our income taxes based on the requirements of the Income Taxes Topic of the Codification, which includes an estimate of the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. We periodically assess the realizability of deferred tax assets and the adequacy of deferred tax liabilities, including the results of local, state, federal or foreign statutory tax audits or estimates and judgments used. Derivative Financial Instruments — We use foreign currency forward contracts to manage our exposures to fluctuating currency exchange rates, forward contracts to manage the exposure on forecasted purchases of commodity raw materials (“commodity contracts”) and interest rate protection agreements to manage our exposures to fluctuating interest rate risk on variable rate debt. Derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet and measured at fair value. For derivatives designated as hedges of the fair value of assets or liabilities, the changes in fair values of both the derivatives and the hedged items are recorded in current earnings. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the changes in fair value of the derivatives is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) and subsequently recognized in earnings when the hedged items impact earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated as hedges, and the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges, are recorded in current earnings. We do not enter into financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. For those transactions that are designated as cash flow hedges, on the date the derivative contract is entered into, we document our hedge relationship, including identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, as well as our risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction. We also assess, both at inception and quarterly thereafter, whether such derivatives are highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedged item. See Notes 13 and 15 for further information. Cash flows from hedging activities are included in the same category as the items being hedged, which are primarily operating activities.

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